Microsoft sold software to China used to trap dissidents

[9215]

Here I am reading about IBM's involvement in the Holocaust and a friend of mine tells me about this. Too be sure this isn't on the same level as the Holocaust, but it sure gives Gates some explaining to do. :grr:

http://www.unknownnews.net/040206microsoft.html




Microsoft sold software to trap Chinese dissidents

by Nick Mathiason, The Observer Feb. 1, 2004

Technology sold by Microsoft to the Chinese government has been used by Beijing to censor the internet, and resulted in the jailing of its political opponents. An Amnesty International report has cited Microsoft among a clutch of leading computer firms heavily criticized for helping to fuel 'a dramatic rise in the number of people detained or sentenced for internet-related offences'. The human rights group has slated Bill Gates's company for an 'inadequate response' to escalating abuses in China. 'We don't believe this is appropriate or responsible,' said Mark Allison, an Amnesty International researcher who wrote the report. '

should be more concerned about human rights abuses and should be using its influence to lift restrictions on freedom of expression and get people out of prison. It is worrying that they don't seem to have raised these issues.'

Amnesty believes Microsoft is in violation of a new United Nations Human Rights code for multinationals which says businesses should 'seek to ensure that the goods and services they provide will not be used to abuse human rights'.

China is the world's most aggressive censor of the internet. Websites are banned for using words such as 'Taiwan', 'Tibet', 'democracy', 'dissident' and 'human rights'. Amnesty has recorded dozens of cases of political opponents jailed for circulating material offensive to the Chinese government.......

[Woodstock]

1. Micro$oft is evil incarnate

I'm not at all surprised.

I do everything in my power to avoid them. Including using whatever influence I have in the business world. Fortunately, Apple and Linux and all the great non-Micro$oft software available makes this easier, and there is never a need to use M$ programming languages. Unfortunately, the US Govt. is locked into using his evil OS and software way too often.

BTW, now Bush & Co. is pushing M$ onto the Iraqis - M$ is there right alongside Halliburton - heaven help the Iraqis.

[JohnyCanuck]

2. Bill is licking his lips in anticipation

of selling the same sotware to the Dept. of Homeland Security. Nice of the Chines to do the Beta testing for him.

[9215]

6. Do you have a link for this?

I'd like to know more about it.

[JohnyCanuck]

7. It was Sarcasm, not for real

Sorry if I misled you. I was just being sarcastic.

[9215]

8. Heck, maybe it is for real

:tinfoilhat:

[EV1Ltimm]

3. Boeing Sold Planes That Killed 3000+ on 9/11

Saying that Microsoft is responsible for detaining dissidents in China is just as irresponsible as the above statement.

And coining it "software" or "technology" to trap dissidents is overtly subversive to say the least. It's a firewall.

I'm an admin at my place of business and sometimes I'm requested to view the internet logs for abuses... which display IP address or machine name, site visited, and the date/time. I believe this is how the Chinese are cracking down on dissidents, since China installed their own proprietary network for their country and know which ip addresses are where, physically.

But every piece of firewall software keeps a log. It would be irresponsible of the programmers who developed it to not do that. The only thing Microsoft is guilty of is making the program up to standards.

China abused their information, not microsoft.

[9215]

5. You have to read Edwin Black's book:

"IBM and the Holocaust".

IBM's selling of record keeping technology to Nazi Germany was continued after they knew what that technology was being used for: to identify Jews.

This quote below could just as easily have been made by IBM:


Microsoft told The Observer: 'We are focused on delivering the best technology to people throughout the world. However, how that technology is used is with the individual and ultimately not in the company's control.'

Hitler abused IBM's technology not IBM.

Gates is no different than IBM's then head Thomas Watson. He must be aware of what this technology is being used for and he is putting profits before people.


PS. Your analogy to Boeing selling aircraft is inaccurate. If Boeing sold the aircraft to a group of terrorist and Boeing KNEW these aircraft were going to be used to fly into bldgs. then YES Boeing would be accountable.


on edit: punctuation.

[WarNoMore]

9. I've been wondering if I was the only to read

Black's book. It was the ability to mine data (of all types) that made it easy for the Nazi's & collaborators to make such operations so efficiently. The real kicker to me is that Watson and his ilk could count on higher-ups and his position in the Chamber of Commerce to deflect the scrutiny. I don't see why we shouldn't make some comparisons to today's events.

[9215]

10. I'd love to get Ed Black's take on Microsoft's role in China

We are talking about technology today that is much more threatening to human rights. All the information the government has on people could be correlated to find people who, for instance, read progressive literature, are involved in protests, etc. and locate them.

If the political climate was right they could round them up. From what I understand there was exactly this contingency planned for by Raygun's FEMA in times of "social unrest" and housing was set up in Seattle (near Sandpoint) for over 100,000 political dissidents. A local writer named Emmett Watson wrote something about this many years ago.

When I heard Bush say: "you are either with us or against us" I thought of Emmett Watson's piece.

[9215]

11. Please delets

.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi klutz!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Terwilliger]

4. This is the lesson of America: make profit at all costs

fuck America

fuck profit